HBO Docuseries Exposes Gruesome Truth Behind Funeral Director’s Crimes
A Sinister Revelation
The new HBO docuseries The Mortician has turned the spotlight on David Sconce, a former funeral home director whose notorious practices in Los Angeles during the 1980s have resurfaced hauntingly through this three-episode investigation. Directed by Joshua Rofé, the series delves into Sconce’s chilling tenure at Lamb Funeral Home, uncovering a litany of unspeakable acts that have left viewers both horrified and riveted.
Disturbing Admissions
In candid interviews, Sconce reflects on his past with unsettling nonchalance. Once a promising high school athlete, he seems detached from the gravity of his actions, which included illegal cremation practices and the mishandling of human remains. His brazen claims about co-mingling ashes and disposing of bodies in mass cremations reveal a business model driven by profit rather than compassion.
Sconce admitted to cremating up to ten bodies at a time and even joked about smashing the bones of corpses to fit them into the cremation chamber faster. “I could cremate one guy in two hours, or you could put 10 of them in there and take two and a half hours. So what would be the difference? There is none,” he stated, demonstrating a shocking lack of empathy.
Former employees corroborate Sconce’s claims, sharing their experiences working under the influence of drugs and participating in the mutilation of corpses to extract valuables like gold teeth and jewelry—practices that reportedly earned the funeral home an extra $20,000 to $30,000 per month.
Caught in the Act
The turning point for Sconce came when residents near the funeral home complained about the incessant burning of flesh emanating from its chimney. It was a World War II veteran—haunted by memories of liberating Auschwitz—who ultimately alerted authorities after detecting the unmistakable scent of burning human remains.
In 1989, Sconce pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including corpse mutilation and participating in a murder associated with a business rivalry, receiving a mere five-year sentence. Though he was released after serving two years, his criminal history didn’t end there. In 2013, he faced a 25-year-to-life sentence for probation violations but was released on parole in 2023 after a decade behind bars.
Conclusion
The Mortician not only shines a light on the grotesque actions of David Sconce but also serves as a cautionary tale about the depths of human depravity in a profession that requires trust and dignity. As the series unfolds, audiences are left pondering the unsettling realities of the funeral industry and the lives that were diminished within it. The docuseries is currently available for streaming on HBO Max.
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Bio: Marcus is a community-based journalist passionate about reporting impactful stories that matter most to readers.